Villa - Fulham post match thread

[Beard82]

I couldnt be prouder or more pleased with the team and the players - we have made about 2 years progress in 6 months - and I think everyone at the club will see top 6 as the aim for next season and buy into that 100.

Literally it is the bare-bones of a squad - and they have been brilliant.  The final step of European competition may be a step to far given the injuries and the SG drag factor, but whatever happens between now and the end of the season a lot of players have really done the club proud and that's all we can ask.  The future looks really bright!

[Risso]

Mid-week/night games always seem to be a bit crap. Traffic was awful after as well, and didn't get home until after midnight.

[Vegas]

It’s one of those games where it’s a bit hard to say anything that’s not obvious. We totally bossed the first half and should have scored more, looked tired in the second but didn’t really look like conceding, we’re getting more and more comfortable playing out from the back, Moreno was our best outlet first half, defence and Douggie played well, Ollie and Buendia couldn’t quite get into the game (but did manage to get into each other).

I am in London for the week, so headed back there after the game and there were a couple of Fulham fans on the train comparing our first half performance to Man City, which was nice. Also quite complimentary about the atmosphere which i I personally thought was ok but not amazing. Guess we’re getting spoilt?

[Drummond]

Mid-week/night games always seem to be a bit crap. Traffic was awful after as well, and didn't get home until after midnight.

Expressway being mostly closed was utterly shite, must have been a Blues fan in charge. M1 was also down to 1 lane in a couple of places too.

[Chris Smith]

Mid-week/night games always seem to be a bit crap. Traffic was awful after as well, and didn't get home until after midnight.

Expressway being mostly closed was utterly shite, must have been a Blues fan in charge. M1 was also down to 1 lane in a couple of places too.

And the trains were mostly not running.

[eamonn]

I thought Villa winning under the lights at Villa Park was meant to be the best sight and sound in football.

[Towser]

Mid-week/night games always seem to be a bit crap. Traffic was awful after as well, and didn't get home until after midnight.

Expressway being mostly closed was utterly shite, must have been a Blues fan in charge. M1 was also down to 1 lane in a couple of places too.

Ha, walking down Witton Lane last night before the game, a car came towards us from Expressway direction, driving slowly past the ground playing Mr Blue Sky at full blast with all his windows wound down, tosser

[Risso]

I thought Villa winning under the lights at Villa Park was meant to be the best sight and sound in football.

Quitest game in years last night, not helped by all the Fulham fans coming in the same taxi.

[VILLA MOLE]

I did hear them them singing about us crying at Wembley in the play off final .  Can we let our Fulham friend on here know that it was the best thing to happen to us in a decade.

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

I did hear them them singing about us crying at Wembley in the play off final .  Can we let our Fulham friend on here know that it was the best thing to happen to us in a decade.

Especially as we then didn't go on to do "a Fulham"!

[Keeno]

I did hear them them singing about us crying at Wembley in the play off final .  Can we let our Fulham friend on here know that it was the best thing to happen to us in a decade.

Based on where it feels the trajectory of the club is right now, its the best thing to happen to us in many, many decades! Never have I been more thankful for losing a game than that one - crazy to think where we might've been had the people in charge at the time been given the Premier League money.

[Villa Lew]

Although we were well on top in the first half, thought we could have upped the tempo and really gone for the jugular and put the match to bed at half time, which would have given the fans a relaxing 2nd half, but as it turned out we saw the game out comfortably which is one of the things, we have being doing under Emery.

[Smithy]

I'd love to know how much of our second-half performance was deliberate, or to instruction - i.e. completely taking our foot off the gas? Was it a case of "They're not looking like scoring, so let them come at us and we'll pick them off"?  I mean, we were clearly much worse second half, but it's not like Fulham were much "better" - I don't think they had a shot on target all game?

Although we were far from brilliant, I expect the players conserved quite a lot of energy in that game compared to a typical blood-and-thunder premier league fixture, which might be helpful come Sunday.

[Nev]

The Man City comparison is not far off and I was thinking that last night during the first half. We will retain possession and be risk free until an opportunity arises then try and create. With Stockport City the comparison was made to a snake slowly strangling their opponent and it's not far off what we do, I've referenced previously how we seem to draw the sting out of teams which means the climax to a games is not particularly nervy. The major difference being the respective quality of the squads, and the fact that Stockport rarely deviate from this but Emery gets us "up and at 'em" if you like when required.

I've never been a fan of that slow style, but the fact that it's working for us and we keep winning is making me a rapid convert and I will be the first to acknowledge that I am something of a luddite when it comes to modern football but if it eventually sees us waving a trophy around I really couldn't care less how it's achieved.

[Smithy]

The Man City comparison is not far off and I was thinking that last night during the first half. We will retain possession and be risk free until an opportunity arises then try and create. With Stockport City the comparison was made to a snake slowly strangling their opponent and it's not far off what we do, I've referenced previously how we seem to draw the sting out of teams which means the climax to a games is not particularly nervy. The major difference being the respective quality of the squads, and the fact that Stockport rarely deviate from this but Emery gets us "up and at 'em" if you like when required.

I've never been a fan of that slow style, but the fact that it's working for us and we keep winning is making me a rapid convert and I will be the first to acknowledge that I am something of a luddite when it comes to modern football but if it eventually sees us waving a trophy around I really couldn't care less how it's achieved.

I think there is a difference between "slow" and "patient".  I'd prefer us to move the ball a little faster, but remain patient. A few times last night, Konsa was up over halfway, stationary with the ball at his feet for several seconds looking for an option, before passing it back and starting again - that "ponderous" looking play is a bit difficult to watch - but I'm completely happy for us to knock it about between our defence and midfield waiting for a good opportunity to move forward.